Five people arrested for stealing hockey gear, accidentally selling it back to police

Five people were reportedly arrested in Fresno, Cali. on Monday in a very unique sting operation that involved recovering thousands of dollars worth of hockey gear that was stolen from two Fresno Monsters players.

According to KSEE 24 News, the roughly $6,000 in equipment was stolen from goalie Justin Herbert and defenseman Dalton Holt back on Oct. 19. Sgt. Tim Tietjen of the Fresno police auto theft team said someone recently contacted one of the players on Facebook and offered to sell the stolen gear back to them for $650. The players informed authorities, and the police set up a phone call with the thieves to arrange to get the equipment back.

“One of our officers posed as one of the hockey players, and was on the phone and negotiating a deal,” Tietjen explained. “They met here at Milburn & Herndon in the parking lot, actually negotiated the deal with the females. For $650 they would exchange the property.”

Officers then arrested five suspects including 31-year-old Athena Cadena, 31-year-old Stacey Levesque and three other men who were believed to be accomplices. The gear was recovered along with auto theft tools, stolen IDs and personal information and a replica handgun.

The fact that the suspects didn’t even think of the possibility that the players would contact the police shows exactly what type of criminal masterminds we’re talking about here. Not to mention, $650 for $6,000 worth of equipment? Do your homework.